Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

To begin with, my wife, spouse, the person with whom I've decided to walk through life with, the big kahuna - has gotten hold of some of her parents slides from circa 1940's - 1950's - 1960's.
I presently have an HP ScanJet 5P that does not have a slide holder - scsi interface - xp w/512 megs ram - works great.
I'm looking for advice here on what to get to replace my scanner (if needed), the feasability of scanning slides to digital format - (ultimate output will be most likely a DVD of the slides with 'some' printed on paper for framing).
1 - what scanner would best serve my purpose here.
2 - workflow for scanning/adjusting slides for digital output.
3 - I suspect it will be a slow process (she has approximately 200 slides) but time I have.

Completely green here,

Thanks for any advice. I know, this is like opening a can of worms, but hey it's a risk I'm willing to take. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Oh boy, this is a good question/topic and maybe I'll tag along and learn too. I have a UMAX flatbed that's supposed to be able to scan slides but I gave up trying. I figured I must be doing something wrong but couldn't get any answer from them for support or instruction. When I worked for the educational television network we had a 35mm slide scanner but I think it has gone belly up since I left a few years ago. I considered buying one myself until I looked at the prices! Also, there are places on the web that don't have too many nice things to say about slide scanners. So, I too sit here with hundreds of slides from the European days early in our marriage... Now I'm off to look at the link in the previous post...

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Your scanner must have a lighted lid. The light has to come from the top-down in order to scan slides. If your scanner is slide-capable, but doesn't have a lighted lid, you may need to purchase the lighted lid as a separate part.

Once you have the lighted lid working, the scanning should be just like scanning paper or a photo.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Thanks for that, Mark. That's the first sensible thing I've heard on the subject. I wonder why UMAX never did tell me that? I'm not too sure how to check that, but I just tried a simulated scan with the lid open and there sure as <img src=/w3timages/censored.gif alt=censored border=0> ain't no light emanating from that lid. Now, I think I'll go look at Dave's link... Thanks.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Hey, that looks pretty <img src=/w3timages/censored.gif alt=censored border=0> good, Dave! Besides which, 35 seconds for a slide ain't so bad - flatbeds don't operate too fast on letter size to start with. I've never heard of the manufacturer but I haven't bought myself a new electronic toy for some time, so I might just spring for this one. Bob, are you getting all of this? <img src=/S/anigrin.gif border=0 alt=anigrin width=19 height=19>

Edited later: I went Googling and saw prices for that model of $120-130 at places like Target or Best Buy and others; when I finally found the manufacturers web site, their list for the model is $190.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Hi Al, Mark, Dave,
Yes Al, I am getting all of this, but been busier than usual the past few days.
Good find Dave on the scanner, but for the money I would probably opt for a HP Scanjet 4070 Photosmart scanner As it not only does slides, but everything else as well and can be found (at least in my area) for around $99.
I am strongly suspecting that my scanjet 5P is starting to look rather weak compared to what is coming out now-a-days for half what I paid for the 5P.
I also strongly suspect that for the price range we are looking at, the best scan we can probably visualize is mediocre at best. But considering the age of these slides - it may be best disguised as 'aged' <g>...
I am almost convinced on picking up a newer scanner and hoping for the best.
Thanks to all for their comments.

In hindsight I 'really' need to be using the forum's search feature more often and more effectively. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

You will be surprised what can be done with these Slide scanners and a GOOD image editor, such as Elements, MS Digital Image or Corel's Paint Shop Pro. The software that comes with some of the scanners will do a fair job, one the others (above) will really clean things up.

There are new versions of some the above that have just been released (MS) or will be shortly (Corel), Elements has been out for a while.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Hi bleduc,

Another option, if you have access to a suitable digital camera, is to use it to photgraph the slides. For example, you can attach transparency mount adaptors to various digital SLRs. For digital compacts, you may be able to simply mount the slide with a suitable light source behind it and use the camera's close-focusing ability to take a suitable pic.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Hi Dave,
I understand what you are saying, but the fact remains that the slide scanner does 'just slides or film'. To spend that kind of <img src=/S/money.gif border=0 alt=money width=17 height=15> I would hope that I could get some other use out of it.
In this project there are 2 points that are given:
1. it will take time to scan the slides in.
2. the scanned images will definitely need 'adjusting'.
On point 2 I'm very familiar with Photo Impact (Ulead) and that software does an excellent job for my needs.
Bob

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Thanks macropod for that observation,
You may not be too far from reality here - I'm seriously thinking of using the slide projector, dark room, and a projection screen to display the slides and snap photos of them with my trusty Canon Powershot S200 Digital Elph.
Obviously I'm not looking for professional quality here <snicker>..

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

Hi Bob,

If you go down that path, remember to turn the camera's flash off <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

More importantly, though, you'll need to be aware that photographs taken from projected slides are likely to have a strong colour cast that's not noticeable when you're viewing them. That's because your eyes will compensate for the effects of the tungsten/halogen lamp in the projector and the reflectance qualties of the screen, but the camera may not be able to - especially if it lacks suitable 'white-balance' controls. Your camera's 'white-balance' compensation may be able to make a reasonable adjustment but, then again, you may find you'll need to do a fair bit of work in a graphics program.

Re: Scanning Slides - what, how, etc.

I have a Epson Perfection 1640SU Photo Scanner, with lighted hood. The sides do NOT scan as well with it as did the scans using a slide scanner. There was leaky light on the sides where the slide frame was NOT held down as tight as it should have been, the lids just do not have the weight that is needed. Little things like this will ruin a scan.

You might check with a local Genealogy group, and see if any one there has one to use and/or do the scans for you. Many of these groups will do work for <img src=/S/free.gif border=0 alt=free width=30 height=15> or a donation.